As CFL teams prepare for free agency, the draft and American scouting trips, questions abound as teams seek to match the Argonauts’ Grey Cup success

The Montreal Alouettes need to come up with a Plan B if all-star quarterback Anthony Calvillo decides not to return next season.

By:Bob MitchellSports Reporter, Published on Wed Dec 05 2012

QB Ricky Ray needed a full season to master the most complicated offence he’s ever run. Imagine how good he can be not starting from scratch next season. That alone should make the Toronto Argonauts the East’s team to beat.

The predominately young defensive secondary also has a year’s experience of playing Chris Jones’ aggressive man-to-man defence. He’s already hunting for new blood. Replacements will be found for defensive linemen Ejiro Kuale, who was granted his release on Tuesday to pursue a job in the NFL, and Ricky Foley, should he leave for free agency. Another deep-threat receiver could be on Scott Milanovich’s Christmas list.

As CFL teams prepare for free agency, the draft and American scouting trips, questions abound as teams seek to match the Argos’ Grey Cup success.

Will CFL all-star quarterback Anthony Calvillo return? What is Plan B if he doesn’t? Calvillo, 40, threw for 31 touchdowns and more than 5,000 yards despite an injury to his non-throwing shoulder. Can they risk going with unproven Adrian McPherson, who has been Calvillo’s heir apparent for five seasons? Will he stick around if Calvillo returns? Assuming he’s recovered from his ACL injury, will Brandon Whitaker be re-signed? Or will they stick with Chris Jennings and Victor Anderson, both capable of being No. 1 ball carriers? Improvements are needed to a defence that allowed more points than their potent offence scored.

QB Henry Burris led the CFL with 43 TDs and 5,367 yards. But the injury-depleted defence couldn’t stop other teams, finishing last in 11 of 25 categories. Their new defensive coordinator must find ways to stop the run and the pass, something they didn’t do well under Casey Creehan’s watch. If tailback Martell Mallett has recovered from his Achilles injury, what happens to running back Avon Colborne and exciting rookie Chevon Walker? Perhaps the biggest question concerns how they will attract free agents playing in a 15,000-seat makeshift stadium at the University of Guelph while the new Pan-Am digs get built. Any way you cut it, it looks like high school, especially to American talent looking for a place to play pro ball.

They need a starting quarterback who can stay healthy. Do they anoint oft-injured Buck Pierce or tell him he has to win the job? GM Joe Mack must decide whether to take a flyer on free-agent passers like the B.C. Lions’ Mike Reilly or the Alouettes’ Adrian McPherson. Does he sign his own free-agent QB Justin Goltz? The Winnipeg defence once had swagger. Will it return with Creehan back running the defence? Several key defenders are about to hit the open market, including Johnny Sears, Jonathan Hefney and CFL all-star Bryan Turner.

The new GM needs to hit a home run with his starting QB, as the sour taste of the Ray trade still lingers with angry Eskimo fans. Third-year passer Matt Nichols could be a future star but he’ll need to rebound from a nasty ankle dislocation. There’s no way Edmonton can sell either Steven Jyles or Kerry Joseph as their No.1 passer. Former GM Eric Tillman said the Ray trade freed up cash to keep their players. At the top of their must-sign free-agent list is all-star middle linebacker J.C. Sherritt. Others who could walk are Rod Williams, T.J. Hill, Julius Williams, Marcus Howard and Chris Thompson. Do they also bring back RB Cory Boyd? Will RB Jerome Messam return to his pre-NFL-bid form?

Does GM John Hufnagel hand the starting QB job to Drew Tate or let Kevin Glenn and Tate battle it out at camp? Glenn wants to start and several teams could be looking for a proven passer but he’s well-liked and respected in the dressing room. Without Glenn, the Stampeders wouldn’t have won six straight and made it to the Grey Cup. Tate is exciting but still unproven. He needs to stay healthy so he doesn’t start being compared to Buck Pierce instead of Doug Flutie. Signing free-agent speedster Larry Taylor and all-star punter Rob Maver is a priority.

GM Wally Buono must decide whether to re-sign free-agent QB Mike Reilly, who could have plenty of other offers. Does he also give CFL all-time reception leader Geroy Simon another contract? Simon, 37, missed games with hamstring problems and only had two TDs and 700 yards, not a vintage season. But he thinks he still has something in his tank. Several other teams might also think so. The Lions have no shortage of young receivers for QB Travis Lulay to throw to, including Shawn Gore, who needs to be re-signed. Buono must replace CFL top lineman Jovan Olafioye, who might get another NFL shot. Lineman Solomon Elimimian has reportedly asked for his release so he can give the NFL another try. The Lions also could be tired of Kalif Mitchell’s antics.

No team has more pressure. They’re hosting the 2013 Grey Cup. Vancouver and Toronto hosted the last two championships and each won at home. The watermelon heads will at least demand their team plays in the title game. That means there will also be pressure on QB Darian Durant to be more hot than cold. Coach Corey Chamblin must find more consistency. The Riders have scored more points under his reign but his record was tarnished by a couple of five-game losing streaks and an overall losing season.

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